§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the number of deaths and serious injuries as a result of domestic fires in each year since 1980.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe numbers of fire-related deaths and casualties from fires attended by local authority fire brigades in the United Kingdom are published in table 6 of the annual Home Office statistical bulletin, "Summary Fire Statistics, United Kingdom", copies of which are in the Library. Figures for 1982 to 1992 are in the edition for 1992—Home Office statistical bulletin issue 28/93—and for 1981 in the edition for 1991—issue 27/92. The number of deaths from fires in dwellings has declined from 780 in 1981 to under 600 in 1992, although non-fatal casualties have risen from 6,300 to 11,200. Most of the rise is accounted for by an increase in the numbers reported by fire brigades as casualties due to "asphyxiation or overcome by gas or smoke".